Forsythes face off in finale

FAYETTEVILLE — When junior Logan Forsythe batted for the first time Sunday, he seemed to barely acknowledged the Tennessee catcher behind him.

One of Arkansas’ most intense hitters was simply businesslike. But his younger brother, Blake Forsythe, was the Volunteers’ starting catcher. Blake is a freshman at Tennessee and was making just his second SEC start to create a Forsythe family affair at Baum Stadium.

“I was talking to him,” Logan Forsythe said after he had five plate appearances in Sunday’s 7-6 loss to Tennessee. “I try to stay focused in my approach at the plate. But after I’d seen him bat before, I told him little things that I see. That was about it. He knows me, that I don’t like to talk much during the game. He wasn’t going to ask me any questions.”

Blake Forsythe had a double in five at-bats and also made a head’s-up throw to third to retire Chase Leavitt when the Razorbacks were on the verge of winning the game in the ninth.

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“That was a pretty tough situation right there, and it came out a little better than I expected,” Blake said of getting a rare start in a key game for his team. “I was looking forward to playing him, and it was just a dream come true to play with my brother in the SEC.”

John Forsythe, the boys’ father, sported a Razorbacks cap but was decked out in a Tennessee orange polo shirt.

“They’re supporting both of us,” Blake said of his father and mother, Dana.

John Forsythe said he appreciated Vols Coach Todd Raleigh playing his younger son. Hogs in the race

Two series ago, Arkansas was 3-8 in the SEC and in 11 th place overall. But after winning consecutive series from Florida and Tennessee, the Razorbacks (7-10 SEC ) are just a half-game behind 8-10 Alabama for second in the Western Division and most importantly eighth in the conference. The top eight teams advance to the SEC Tournament. Third baseman Logan Forsythe, when told where the team was a couple weeks earlier, called it “a great spot” to be in.

“We’re still trying to get over the hump, but I’m proud of our guys winning the series,” Razorbacks Coach Dave Van Horn said.